[Salmonidae]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to do my performance diploma this summer on the flute and just wondering if anyone else is doing it/has done it and has any advice to share about the viva voce or programme note etc.

S

[Vernish]

My flute teacher is talking about doing my Diploma this summer too. I'm rather dubious (really not sure my musical knowledge is up to it)! ABRSM do a dvd with clips from several performances and viva-voces, which was kind of useful - probably not worth buying, but could see if it's in your library?

What pieces are you doing?

[Salmonidae]

I'm inking about doing an all English programme probably consisting of:

-Suite Antique - John Rutter
-The Pied Piper - Gordon Jacob
-Sonatina - Lennox Berkley

And then maybe one other. Worried it is lacking in concerto type stuff though :/

[Nooshkabob]

I'm doing my piano DipABRSM and was thinking of doing a flute ATCL - i'm under the impression ACTL is a bit easier, what with no viva and everything! scared about the piano viva though, been looking at the sample questions at the back of the syllabus and I think i have a lot of work to do
I don't think you need concerto type stuff, as long as you're doing some pieces which are accompanied, not just solo.
I would recommend Hindemith sonata - it's really weird at first, with an insanely hard accompaniment, but it's really grown on me, and is interesting to play

[hothedgehog]

I think that doing a diploma this summer is far too soon. It really takes about a year to properly prepare yourself for a diploma.

[schenker]

(Original post by Salmonidae)
I'm inking about doing an all English programme probably consisting of:

-Suite Antique - John Rutter
-The Pied Piper - Gordon Jacob
-Sonatina - Lennox Berkley

And then maybe one other. Worried it is lacking in concerto type stuff though :/

There are a lot of concerti on the flute's Dip repertoire list, though I doubt it would matter. Your program as it stands is fairly well balanced, though perhaps a little flat in terms of composers - they were all most active in the latter 20th century. I would suggest you look for an older piece (c. mid 19th century) that perhaps has some links to folklore which could complement the Gordon Jacob and to an extent the Rutter.

[EvergreenSelen]

Hi, Can someone please please please give me some advice over my piano DipABRSM which I'll be taking next month.
I'm reasonably happy with my notes/recital part; and am willing to work HARD for the quick study/viva voce.
But does anyone know how to go about them? and the actual exam, what does it consists of? and generally, is the fail rate high?

[Nooshkabob]

(Original post by EvergreenSelen)
Hi, Can someone please please please give me some advice over my piano DipABRSM which I'll be taking next month.
I'm reasonably happy with my notes/recital part; and am willing to work HARD for the quick study/viva voce.
But does anyone know how to go about them? and the actual exam, what does it consists of?

I'd say quick study just do one every day so that you become really confident. borrow a grade 6 book off a friend or something and sit for a few minutes looking through it then try sight reading it. For viva voce, try and get your instrumental teacher/head of music/parents to go through it with you, asking you questions and testing you. At the back of the syllabus there are sample questions and answers which are really helpful. It's impossible to plan out all your answers beforehand because there's bound to be something you weren't quite expecting, but look through them and make notes on how you'd answer each question, and do lots of background research on your repertoire, the period, other works by the composer, techniques used etc... I haven't taken my diploma yet, still working on it, but get people who have done it to tell you some questions they were asked or something?
The syllabus has a huge amount of information if you just sit and read through it...

(Original post by EvergreenSelen)
and generally, is the fail rate high?

I would try not to think about the fail rate and focus on doing your best... you'll need at least 40% to pass (and you need to pass every section, not just overall) but if you've worked hard then it is extremely unlikely that you'll fail!

[aym280]

(Original post by Vernish)
My flute teacher is talking about doing my Diploma this summer too. I'm rather dubious (really not sure my musical knowledge is up to it)! ABRSM do a dvd with clips from several performances and viva-voces, which was kind of useful - probably not worth buying, but could see if it's in your library?

What pieces are you doing?

Unfortunately, the DVD does not feature flute! I bought it for my son's piano and violin and flute. NO flute!

[bobster1903]

anyone got their results yet? if not do you know when we should expect them? did my violin one mid july

[Vernish]

Sent my application off to do my flute dip in December. What on earth have I done!

[Nooshkabob]

Application for piano DipABRSM in december sent and decided to start working towards my flute ATCL too... I'm going to be busy!

[Vernish]

(Original post by Nooshkabob)
Application for piano DipABRSM in december sent and decided to start working towards my flute ATCL too... I'm going to be busy!

Very busy! How are you getting on with the program notes?? I'm struggling to find the balance between too chatty and too academic..

[Nooshkabob]

(Original post by Vernish)
Very busy! How are you getting on with the program notes?? I'm struggling to find the balance between too chatty and too academic..

Yeah it's a tough one... My piano teacher's been really helpful, and I've been reading lots of books which will hopefully help with the viva too. At the moment my notes are too short but I've done a first draft so I at least have something to work with. I just think mine aren't interesting enough at the moment! I guess it's a matter of including the necessary facts but portraying them in a way that will appeal to any randomer who reads it. Easier said than done...

[Vernish]

(Original post by Nooshkabob)
Yeah it's a tough one... My piano teacher's been really helpful, and I've been reading lots of books which will hopefully help with the viva too. At the moment my notes are too short but I've done a first draft so I at least have something to work with. I just think mine aren't interesting enough at the moment! I guess it's a matter of including the necessary facts but portraying them in a way that will appeal to any randomer who reads it. Easier said than done...

That's pretty much where I'm at. Struggling through books and worrying! (and apparently trying to avoid doing any work by posting here about it ) Good luck with yours!

[Vernish]

I'm just wondering how people are getting on??

Can anyone give me any idea of viva questions? I'm playing (flute) Telemann fantasias, 2nd Mozart Concerto, Syrinx and CHopin's Variations on a theme by Rossini.

Thanks!

[Alleykat606]

(Original post by Vernish)
I'm just wondering how people are getting on??

Can anyone give me any idea of viva questions? I'm playing (flute) Telemann fantasias, 2nd Mozart Concerto, Syrinx and CHopin's Variations on a theme by Rossini.

Thanks!

I'm doing performance on piano questions I've been practicing include like: 'Why did you pick this piece'/'Why did you choose this programme' (this is a really standard question and you're almost certainly going to be asked this) umm 'Why did you pick this particular edition' e.g. urtext, boosey&hawkes etc.

'What other genre(s) of music did this composer write'

'What is the difference between this composer's earlier and later works'

'What is a sonata/prelude/fugue/courante etc.'

'How did the composer influence the musical world'

'What was going on in the composer's life when he wrote this'

[Vernish]

(Original post by Alleykat606)
I'm doing performance on piano questions I've been practicing include like: 'Why did you pick this piece'/'Why did you choose this programme' (this is a really standard question and you're almost certainly going to be asked this) umm 'Why did you pick this particular edition' e.g. urtext, boosey&hawkes etc.

'What other genre(s) of music did this composer write'

'What is the difference between this composer's earlier and later works'

'What is a sonata/prelude/fugue/courante etc.'

'How did the composer influence the musical world'

'What was going on in the composer's life when he wrote this'

Thank you very much - very helpful! I think composers' backgrounds, "works in context" is something I do need to do a bit more on. My afternoon sorted!

[fiddlecat]

Hi everyone, I'm gonna be taking my dipABRSM violin in December, and I'm playing Brahms FAE Sonata Scherzo, Beethoven 2nd Romance, Bartok Romanian dances and Bach Dm Sarabande. I've just got a few questions;

Do the programme notes get marked too? Or do they contribute to the viva voce?
Is the sightreading unaccompanied or accompanied with piano?
How much does it cost to retake the exam? I was under the impression that you could retake parts of it instead of retaking the whole thing, but i might be wrong.

I'm so nervous about my exam! D:

[Vernish]

(Original post by fiddlecat)
Hi everyone, I'm gonna be taking my dipABRSM violin in December, and I'm playing Brahms FAE Sonata Scherzo, Beethoven 2nd Romance, Bartok Romanian dances and Bach Dm Sarabande. I've just got a few questions;

Do the programme notes get marked too? Or do they contribute to the viva voce?
Is the sightreading unaccompanied or accompanied with piano?
How much does it cost to retake the exam? I was under the impression that you could retake parts of it instead of retaking the whole thing, but i might be wrong.

I'm so nervous about my exam! D:

Hi. The programme notes don't get an individual mark as far as I'm aware, they're included in the mark for the viva. Sight reading is unaccompanied and you can retake just one element (unsure about the cost of doing this.)

Good luck! I'm really nervous about doing mine too. Where are you doing yours?